These Are the Best New and Newly Refreshed Hotels in Thailand of 2023

WILL HOTELS IN THAILAND ever stop opening? The start of the pandemic brought a handful of luxury darlings and some major new developments in the next few years promise more on the horizon. But 2023 surprised with a mix of resorts changing the games of their beach locations, much-needed city-center innovators… and Bill Bensley’s rail-inspired flight of fancy near Khao Yai National Park. Here are the 10 best new hotel openings, reopenings and expansions in Thailand in 2023.

Anantara Koh Yao Yai

The island of Koh Yao Yai, wedged between Krabi and Phuket in the karst-studded waters of Phang Nga Bay, has long been overlooked, maintaining a sleepy, low-key nature that contrasts with the tourism superstars nearby. This year marked a significant change as the island embraced large-scale luxury tourism with the autumn unveiling of Anantara Koh Yao Yai Resort & Villas. The ambitious resort comprises 148 expansive suites, pool villas, and penthouses, complete with two dining venues, a spa, and two showpiece pools. It’s big alright, but the idyllic ambience stays true to the island’s gentle spirit. Among the activities offered are expeditions to Hong Island, where a secluded white-sand beach meets a crystalline lagoon, and vintage sidecar excursions through a rubber plantation.

www.anantara.com/en/koh-yao-yai-phuket; doubles from THB10,430 (US$291)

Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach

Pattaya’s reputation has been burnished in recent years by positive changes that are refreshing the beach city. Arguably no development has been more effective in upping the destination’s game than the opening of Andaz Pattaya. The first Andaz resort in Thailand, the property is quite a way out of the city itself—surrounded by century-old banyan trees and lush landscaped gardens on Tawanron Beach. This sense of glorious seclusion shines through in the resort’s 204 rooms, suites and villas and indulgent amenities including an onsen, yoga room, curated retail spaces, a spa and wellness area, and an around-the-clock fitness center. The resort’s F&B game is especially strong. Fresh seafood takes precedence at Fish Club, the beachfront venue, while other dining highlights include La Cucina (Italian), Wok Wok (Thai/Asian) and Village Butcher (grill).

www.hyatt.com/andaz/utpaz-hyatt-andaz-pattaya-jomtien-beach; doubles from THB9,338 (US$261)

ASAI Bangkok Sathorn

No hotel brand has grasped the zeitgeist of new Bangkok better than ASAI. This hip factor is to the fore at the second ASAI to open in Thailand’s capital. Situated in the heart of Sathorn—Bangkok’s nominal business district that is also home to some of the city’s best bars, galleries, and spas—the property is all the modern urban explorer/digital nomad needs in a big-city base. Bijou rooms and suites are small but perfectly formed and come with environmentally friendly ASAI amenities. Other trump cards at the hotel include the presence of ERR: Urban Rustic Thai, where chef power couple Dylan Jones and Duangporn “Bo” Songvisava—whose Bo.lan raised the bar for Thai fine dining in Bangkok—present unpretentious, delicious dishes that pair well with drinks and mates.  

www.asaihotels.com/locations/bangkok-sathorn; doubles from THB2,174 (US$60)

Chatrium Grand Bangkok

Bangkok’s enduring popularity with visitors means that there’s always scope for new hotel blood in its commercial heart. It helps, of course, when a property is as polished an all-rounder as the Chatrium Grand. Perfectly positioned in the thick of the action next to Siam Paragon and a stone’s throw from CentralWorld. The hotel balances convenience with plenty of home comforts and enticing trimmings. Rooms and suites in the property’s twin towers benefit from tasteful minimalist interiors, generous floorplans and (on the higher levels) stunning views of the space-age cityscape. Other highlights of the hotel include a tropical pool deck, a top-rate spa offering innovative treatments like salt and oxygen therapy, and Casia, a signature fine dining outlet that majors in French-Mediterranean cuisine.

www.chatrium.com/grandbangkok; doubles from THB8,580 (US$240)

InterContinental Bangkok

What’s old is new at InterContinental Bangkok, which reopened this year following a comprehensive refurbishment. The long hiatus (the hotel was shut for just over a year) facilitated a refresh that has transformed the property and introduced a range of new highlights. All 381 guestrooms have been meticulously renovated, while a reimagined rooftop pool offers breathtaking views of the city. The interior design incorporates artistic elements inspired by Bangkok’s magnificent palaces and space-age skyline. Other notable additions include SoCal, a brand-new California-inspired restaurant that goes big on Sunshine State vintages and fresh cuisine that puts an emphasis on organic, seasonal ingredients.

bangkok.intercontinental.com; doubles from THB6,843 (US$195)

InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit

The network of streets that extend like tendrils around Thong Lor offers some of Bangkok’s richest rewards. The most celebrated high-society playground in Thailand has a new luxury hotel jewel in the shape of InterContinental Bangkok Sukhumvit. The property offers 241 rooms and suites, which blend traditional Thai craftsmanship with contemporary influences. Tor-mue, a traditional intricate hand-weaving technique, flows through the hotel’s design and touchpoints. Signature F&B options include AVA Brasserie, which presents creative international cuisine inspired by air travel, and Rogues, a high-energy cocktail bar. THE SPA by HARNN, meanwhile, is a Japanese-Thai-inspired concept where signature treatments include The Origami, meant to evoke the feeling of traditional Japanese paper folding and Thai garland knitting.

www.ihg.com/intercontinental/hotels/us/en/bangkok/bkktl/hoteldetail; doubles from THB8,828 (US$247)

InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping

Chiang Mai’s contingent of brand-name luxury hotels has been quietly expanding. The new InterContinental Chiang Mai Ping is the latest to blend contemporary five-star comforts with characteristic Lanna charm in Thailand’s northern capital. The property’s 240 elegant rooms and suites feature Lanna-inspired décor, spacious Zen bathrooms and outlooks either over the old city or towards towering Doi Suthep. With a total of five restaurants and bars, there’s a strong emphasis on F&B. The property works with carefully vetted local suppliers, including bee and cacao farms, to source ingredients for outlets such as The Gad Lanna, which specializes in the cuisine of Northern Thailand. Other connections with traditional local culture can be forged via a range of curated activities ranging from pottery and umbrella-making to traditional toy workshops.

chiangmai.intercontinental.com; doubles from THB7,962 (US$223)

InterContinental Khao Yai

When Bill Bensley dreams up a design theme, it pays to let him run with it. Such is the case at the sparkling InterContinental Khao Yai Resort, which added significant polish to its initial luster with the unveiling of the resort’s suites—a collection of upcycled vintage railway carriages that stand out as some of the most distinctive accommodations in all of Thailand. While some might quibble at the choice of concept (Khao Yai has no history as a significant rail hub), nobody can question Bensley’s dedication to making it all sing. The new suites feature narrow marble-clad shower cabins, ceiling-mounted luggage racks, and futon-like beds positioned on slightly elevated platforms at each cabin’s end. Interiors, meanwhile, showcase inspiration from various Asian railway journeys with intricately carved wood headboards, silk weavings and ceramics.

khaoyai.intercontinental.com; suites from THB22,974 (US$645)

Iniala Beach House

Hotels don’t get much more quirky and boutique than Iniala Beach House. Located an easy half-hour’s drive north of Phuket International Airport on Natai Beach in Phang Nga, the resort counts five sprawling units with a total of 12 bedrooms, two of which were unveiled when the property reopened in November 2023. Each sports eye-popping interiors from the likes of Thai maestro Eggarat Wongcharit and different exclusive facilities like a luxurious in-villa spa, a sunken heart-shaped bathtub or wooden plunge pools on the roof of the two new rooms. If that’s not enough, British chef Simon Rogan—whose Lake District L’enclume boasts three Michelin stars—has just opened Aulis Phuket, a 15-seat chef’s table in a totally revamped restaurant space on site that includes a sleek open kitchen and a cozy sitting room where he and his team showcase his distinctive, and delicious, farm-to-table philosophy. 

www.inialathailand.com; doubles from US$1,112 per night with three-night minimum

—Vincent Vichit-Vadakan

Irene Resort Koh Lipe

With its gin-clear waters and dazzling white-sand beaches, Koh Lipe has long epitomized Thai-style tropical paradise. However, the island has arguably lacked the luxury resort firepower to elevate it among the Kingdom’s elite destinations. The opening of Irene Resort on the island’s far northwest corner has injected Koh Lipe with fresh high-end appeal. The resort’s 16 pool villas are beautifully conceived and executed using reclaimed wood and designer fabrics as well as artful blurring of the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces. If the mood takes you, you can amble lazily from your villa to the resort restaurant Bok e’tto, which features tapas and small plates with influences from Japan and the Mediterranean.

ireneresort.com; villa from THB12,825 (US$359)

Le Meridien Mai Khao

Phuket’s northern beaches may lack the pizazz of their counterparts further south on the island, but they retain an unspoiled, peaceful ambience that is ideal for families. Le Meridien Mai Khao capitalizes on this kid-friendly potential with plentiful draws for adults and children alike. The resort features an outdoor lagoon pool, a children’s fun pool, a kids’ club and plenty of outdoor activities.  A selection of family rooms with bunk beds are available. There are also brand-new pool access rooms, private cabana rooms, two-bedroom suites and private pool suites. On the F&B front, Ocean Kitchen is the signature Mediterranean restaurant where guests can savour freshly prepared European and Middle Eastern cuisine.

www.marriott.com; doubles from THB6,398 (US$182)

Lede and hero image courtesy of Andaz Pattaya Jomtien Beach.

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